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THE JOKER IS WILD/BATMAN IS RILED
The Joker devises a utility belt of his own, and switches it with
Batman's. He captures the Dynamic Duo and threatens to unmask them on live TV, a classic bit of Batlore. These episodes avoid the series' typical
bizarro deathtrap cliffhanger, an excellent but underutiliezed change of pace.
This is the best Joker performance by Cesar Romero.
WONDERGIRL'S COMMENTS: The cliffhanger in this episode is particularly erotic for me in that the Dynamic Duo had Joker in their grasp, and could have easily ended the episode right there, but a tiny little mishap occurs (in this case, a quick whiff of sneezing powder), and they quickly lose their upper hand. I like to imagine Robin's frustration as the thugs hold his arms behind him while one of them works him over, draining away his resistance. Ultimately, you can see the despair and helplessness on his face when the Joker's hand closes in to unmask them. This is one of my favorite Robin scenes. In fact, it's the episode that got me started on my Robin fetish...
A RIDDLE A DAY KEEPS THE RIDDLER AWAY/WHEN THE RAT'S AWAY THE MICE WILL PLAY
Visiting King Boris is kidnapped by the Riddler, leading Batman and
Robin into a trap. BatBits: At the beginning of #12, look for the blatantly (campy) stuffed dummies of Batman and Robin on the drive shaft.
WONDERGIRL'S COMMENTS: The cliffhanger in this episode is kind of silly, but how the duo get captured isn't. The Riddler and his team spray the Dynamic Duo with a sort of viscous substance that entangles the two of them together in a neat and tidy little ball. I'm into light bondage, and I'd love to find a can of that stuff! J It's also nice at the beginning of the second episode, after they escape the drive shaft horror, to watch Batman try to revive a notably shaken Robin.
THE JOKER GOES TO SCHOOL/HE MEETS HIS MATCH, THE GRISLY GHOUL
Joker plans to undermine student morale and recruit high school
dropouts for his gang, the Bad Pennies. The Clown Prince of Crime wires the
Dynamic Duo to a slot machine about to generate 50,000 volts.
BatBits: In November 1965, Semple concocted a new villain named The
One-Armed Bandit, "whose peculiar kick is gimmicked coin machines of all
sorts." The idea ultimately wound up in these episodes with Joker in
charge of the One Armed Bandit Novelty Company and vending machines that churned out silver dollars, quarters, answer sheets to exams and knockout gas.
WONDERGIRL'S COMMENTS: I love this episode. It's probably my favorite. Batman and Robin are in a high school gym looking for clues when they spy the one-armed bandit. They pull the lever and suddenly find themselves held fast to the floor by leg shackles! Oh no! The dynamic duo has no fear, though…they know how to pick locks and have the gear in their utility belts to do it.
And then something beautiful happens.
A slow, steady stream of knockout gas flows out of the machine and into our heroes faces. Why is this beautiful? Simply put, Robin, drifting into unconsciousness, lays his head on Batman's shoulder, and Batman rests his head atop Robin's, and the two simply stand there…knocked out and helpless, waiting for the Joker to come and get them. Robin looks absolutely precious as he falls asleep, it makes me wish I was the Joker. It is easily one of the top three cliffhanger scenes in my book. Probably number one.
THE PENGUIN GOES STRAIGHT/NOT YET, HE AIN'T
Penguin apparently dumps his criminal past when he routs several
robberies and establishes the Penguin's Protective Agency to guard society's
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